SOME of Britain’s top amateur boxers took to the ring in Basingstoke – and good causes were the clear winners as the night raised £25,000 for charity.

The 12th annual international charity dinner and boxing evening, organised by The Rotary Club of Basingstoke Deane, took place at Aldworth Science College last Friday.

The event was due to see England take on Poland – but the Poles pulled out just one week before the show, putting the entire evening in doubt.

Fortunately, Keith Walters, the chairman of the Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABA), stepped in to save the day by organising a Great British team to take Poland’s place.

Roy Sands, who organises the event for The Rotary Club of Basingstoke Deane, said: “It was a shame Poland pulled out at the last minute because we sell the event as an international match.

“It’s not quite the same having England against Great Britain but the quality of the boxers was very high. We think we have raised somewhere in the region of £25,000. It was a great night and we are already thinking about next year’s event.”

The money will be used to support a range of local charities, and also a special school in Zambia, which Basingstoke Deane Rotary president Marion Cornick is helping to develop.

The highlight of the evening was the eighth and final bout of the evening, an 81kg contest between Sam Pomphrey and Lawrence Osueke. Pomphrey is the current ABA champion, a title Osueke was denied the chance to contest due to an injury sustained last year.

The first round was a cagey affair but Osueke got on top in the second, landing a good right in the early stages and a strong left towards the end. He retained control in the third round, keeping Pomphrey at a safe distance and picking him off with a couple more good shots to claim a 12-4 victory on points.

The opening bout of the evening saw Sean McGoldrick win the boxer of the night award with a fine display of counter-attacking boxing as he beat Jimmy Cooper 21-12 in a 51kg contest. James Allen then produced a solid display to beat Cris Ali 17-11 in a 57kg contest, while 60kg fighter Sam Maxwell was a comfortable 22-7 winner against Darren Ballinger.

In a 64kg contest, Louis Adolphe beat Jimmy Randall 15-6, before Sam McNess scored a comprehensive 28-6 victory over Tommy Watson, also at 64kg.

Simon Lewis recorded England’s only victory of the night at 81kg, beating Paul Ormston 16-9 after forcing two standing eight counts in the final round.